View Full Version : Best allround fishing boat.
slinkey
03-05-2005, 10:14 AM
I'm wondering what you think is the best type of fishing boat for a wide variety of uses? A boat for springers on the willy, gators on the Columbia, Fall Chinook on Till. Bay, and still have the ability to fish steelhead on the Clackamas. I have been very close to buying a driftboat for steelhead fishing, and have kind of resigned myself to the fact that its the best way to go for Steelhead, and the only choice for coastal rivers. But coastal river fishing for steelhead aside, what would be your choice?
No such thing. For what you are wanting it would take 2 boats. A 19'-20' V hull w/prop and a 16'-18' w/pump.
slinkey
03-05-2005, 10:39 AM
Thanks Keta. That's kinda what I thought. Too bad there's no one size fits all.
Two Fister
03-05-2005, 11:20 AM
Slinkey,
I've been going through the same thing for a long time. What I finally realized was there isn't one do it all boat. The boats that are good in shallow water aren't great in open water. Obviously, boats made for deep water aren't going to spend too much time (or get very far) running in shallow water. Boats that kind of do both are not that good at either; sort of the jack of all trades, master of none. Multipurpose boats also are really expensive.
I'd follow Ketas advice. That's what I'm doing. I'm in the process of buying a 19' boat with outboard on an offshore bracket for the lakes, Willamette, the CR, and estuary fishing/crabbing. Once I get my wife over that, I'll start shopping for a flat bottom sled.
Good luck!
TF
I have a 14' Smokercraft flatbottom w/35hp and a pump that didn't cost much and it works ok for rivers. You don't need a big river boat for rivers like the Rogue and Clack.
Draggin' Bait
03-05-2005, 07:35 PM
A few years ago I was fishing out of Brookings during the early October 10-day offshore salmon season. I met a family running a 20-foot aluminum inboard jet boat, which they claimed did well for both the ocean and the rivers. They ran a kicker for offshore trolling, the main jet drive the remainder of the time. To me, it appeared to be a second-choice boat for both functions, but they were happy and after all, it was their $!
BloodNtheboat
03-05-2005, 08:09 PM
I dissagree with the no such thing reply's
You didnt mention in your post about going in the ocean so I really think you can have an awesome all areound freshwater(bays included) fishng boat with shallow capabilities.
Look at the Willie Raptors, V enttry bow, blending to a shallow transom, cuts the chop, and runs the shallows as well (to a certian point). There are alot of guides that have the same fishing agenda as you do that fish this style of boat. You will be suprised, as long as you keep the ocean out of the equation there really is a great all around boat out there for you. Aluminum jet boats are the most versitle boats there are for Pacific northwest fishing.
Salmonator
03-05-2005, 08:42 PM
I have to agree. And might add that if he dropped the Clack steelhead thing and added tuna and halibut, my Trophy would be the perfect boat because I do all the above while my wife sleeps in the cuddy :grin:. Wouldn't that be a hoot to see a 20' trophy with a pump flying up the clack in March? :bigshock: :crazy: :jester:
Bluefinn
03-07-2005, 12:24 PM
I had a 20'Willie sled for years I ran a Yamaha 200 hp.outboard with a pump and also had a Bay kit and a lower drive (prop) worked great and it takes about 1 hour to switch over.This boat worked very well in the ocean,columbia ,Deshutes,etc.
Salmon Stryker
03-07-2005, 12:58 PM
My dad and I are able to fish all of the above mentioned locations with the two boats that we own. We have a 17ft Alumaweld Stryker with a 75 hp prop and kicker on. We fish the Willamette, Columbia, Buoy 10, Ocean salmon and bottom fish, salmon and crab in the bays, and hit the lakes. It is easy on gas, easy to trailer and tow, and is a great all around boat for what we need. The only complaint I have about it is that it gets crowded if you want to fish 4 or more people. We bought it in 2000 and it cost us a little under 17k.
I also bought an older 16x48 alumaweld drift boat that gets me down the clackamas, santiams, Deschutes, John Day and the coastal rivers as well as some duck/deer hunting floats on the willamette luckimute and yamhill rivers. It cost me $2,000 and about $500 more to set up with an electric motor for side drifting. When I use it on the willamette or for tidewater bobber jaunts I take the kicker off of the stryker and put it on the drift boat.
All in all for under 20k we were able to set ourselves up for every kind of northwest fishing we like to do.
Now if someone would take me out for tuna or halibut I would get that bug and then my opinion would probably change. :wave:
weekender
03-07-2005, 02:52 PM
For the fisherys you have listed, any sled with a pump would do the trick.
Magnum
03-09-2005, 07:00 PM
I purchased a 19' NR Mariner w/ Yamaha 115 prop for the reasons you described above except for not being able to fish the Clackamas...and of course I couldn't afford a NR Seahawk. As long as I have at least 3 people in my boat in rough water, the ride isn't that bad even though it has a 12 degree bottom. I fish the Willamette, Columbia, Buoy 10, crab in bays, and numerous lakes just fine. :grin:
WaterDog
03-09-2005, 07:31 PM
One thing I have found out is the the heavier the boat, the better it rides. So far, my current 22', 14deg jet boat is the best "all purpose" boat I have owned. Trim tabs are also a help if the water gets choppy. It doesnt ride like deep vee and I don't expect it to but with spring ride seats and tabs I'm comfortable with it. I prefer the way a jet handles in tight quarters and like the lay out better than some of the walk arounds. I also still require the shallow capability as well. Even with this boat I still have a 13' alaskan for the real small water. Add a 20 trophy and I'm good to go for the longfins. :grin:
Freakwater
03-09-2005, 07:39 PM
Ask Redbull. He's got the "perfect boat". :smash:
Freakwater
TundraIII
03-10-2005, 09:24 AM
Ya know...I have owned a very expensive sled with pump...and now I own a very inexpensive boat with prop. Somehow a rough ride in choppy water is more tolerable in a boat that is paid for as opposed to taking a beating in a sled that costs me 300
bucks a month. I Have owned 4 boats and I will never buy another aluminum boat for use in salt water, especially a pump for use in big water. An outboard is wayyy more efficient in deep rough water conditions and is much more economical to run.
weekender
03-10-2005, 12:21 PM
A boat for springers on the willy, gators on the Columbia, Fall Chinook on Till. Bay, and still have the ability to fish steelhead on the Clackamas.
Comfortable or not, if a guy wants to fish these locations with one boat, its got to be a sled with a pump. Or, if you want to spend more money, you could buy an outboard with a pump and prop. I wouldnt expect the same hull with a prop to take the chop any better that the pump though.
TundraIII
03-10-2005, 01:38 PM
Dont forget to factor in how much time you will spend in any given area. If you only make 6 trips on average to the Clackamas every year but predominately spend your time in big water on the bay, ocean or lower Columbia......then a sled with pump doesnt make much sense...I learned this the hard and expensive way.
weekender
03-10-2005, 04:04 PM
True. If you dont want to fish the clack, then you dont need a pump. Oh wait... You said originally that you wanted to fish the clack. Thats right, now I remember.
Here's my choice. I have a family so the windshield and top are important. The tiller models are the best fishing boat.
http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/medium/296port.jpg